Cassian's povI nurse my bottle of scotch leaning my elbows on the railings. The cold air sweeps over my face as my eyes scan the compound. The sky is a canvas of stars, their cold glow barely touching the vast darkness covering the estate. I move my eyes to the swimming pool where a silhouette of a woman swims there in a red bikini. The blue glow from the pool makes her look ethereal — until recognition slaps. It's Maya.What the fuck?I move to where she finds a couple of men, ogling at her. I take a slow step forward and that's all it takes for them to scramble away their amusement faltering.“Get out of the pool now,” I scream, startling her. She looks up, wiping the water away from her face. “Uh.”“Don't make me repeat myself.”“No,” she says, her gaze sharp. I shake my head, not believing the nerve of this girl.I move without thinking, my fingers circling her wrist. The moment our skin touches heat jolts through my body. With a sharp tug, I pull her up. She gasps, her body sl
Maya's pov “Ugh, why won't this stupid damn thing come off,” I grunt, tugging the necklace harder. I claw at it, trying to find a seam or clasp but there's none. How did Cassian even get this on me?Frustrated, I stand, barging out of the door to make him take it off my neck. The house is quiet, confirming everybody has left. I descend the stairs after I see him talking with Holden near the ballroom.“I can't, they wanted to kill her,” Cassian says, thin lines covering his forehead.“So that man was here to kill Maya,” Holden says, making my heart stop.Maya. The name echoes in my mind hollow and unfamiliar. They are talking about me. My breath hitches as I try to speak.“Someone wants to kill me?” I ask, my voice startling them. They both look at each other when they see me their shock a mirror to my own.“Maya it's not —”Cassian cuts him off, his face outraged. “What are you doing down here?”“Uh, finding out someone wants to kill me,” I answer my voice breaking. “And trying to ta
“Maya's povI grab the work-up plan, and the saline solution to replace his vitreous humor. “You see this?” I ask, dangling the solution in the air. “I was supposed to replace it with the white gel in your eye and make you see in your left eye.”His face softens. “But now, since we're lying to each other and doing things the way we want now I guess you will have to remain a mono-eyed son of a bitch,” I mutter, throwing it on the wall. It cracks falling on the floor like the shred of trust I had for him.“Why would you do that?” He asks, looking at where the solution marks on the floor.“My question exactly.”He shakes his head. “You're a child,” he says walking out the door.I laugh, wiping away my tears. “He's the child,” I mutter, picking my things from the floor.A soft knock pulls me from my thoughts. I turn to find a house staff standing hesitantly in the doorway.“Dinner is ready,” she says. “I'm not hungry.”“You must go, sir is asking for you.”I grunt nodding. I splash cold w
Maya's pov“Dr. Sanchez,” someone says, I turn to find a male nurse looking at me expectantly.“What?” I ask, heading to prep my patient.“A patient is asking for you,” he says, making me halt in my tracks.“What? Go find another resident I'm scrubbing in on a surgery.”“He insists he'll only be treated by you,” he says, looking confused.“And I told you to find another resident,” I snapped. “ I have a surgery to attend to.”He grunts but before he can argue Maggie appears. “What's going on here?” She asks, a hand on her waist.“A patient is asking for Dr.Sanchez.”“And I'm telling him I have surgery,” I interject.Maggie tilts her head, “go check on what the patient wants.”“Maggie— ”“I don't want to hear it Sanchez.”I look at the nurse. “He's in bed 322.”I frown walking away from him. If I miss my surgery because of him I will fucking lose it.I draw the curtain to reveal Cassian lying on the bed, making my anger spill.“What are you doing here?” I ask, drawing the curtain shut b
Cassian's povMaya's heels click against the pristine marble floor, the sound echoing through the towering lobby. “Maya,” I call.“Maya,” I repeat. Her curious eyes meet mine, and for a second I'm pulled to her shimmering lips. “Stop looking around, eyes ahead.”She narrows her eyes at me but nods nonetheless. I take my black card from my jacket pocket, swinging it on the elevator camera.The elevator chimes open and we step in. “Hold me tight.”“What?”The elevator starts moving downwards, faster with each second. Maya's fingers claw at my arm as she steadies herself for balance. My arm circles her waist holding her in place. The moment the door opens a wave of heat and sound clashes over us. Slot machines ringing, glasses clinking, conversations overlapping in a chaotic melody of indulgence.“You okay?” I ask, watching Maya's eyes squint from the sudden brightness.She lets out a shaky breath mumbling a small yeah. “It's going to be fine, just don't talk if it's not necessary.”“Wel
Cassian's pov“Make a move,” Don Celestine says, sliding the blueprint of Moretti's drug warehouse towards me. “If you keep quiet they will think you are weak and you're not,” he says his gaze intense.“Exactly, but I have a better plan,” I mutter.They all stop. “That warehouse is worthless to us, we have ten times more dope than them, and infiltrating their warehouse is just a waste of time. Going directly to the source is the ideal way to get them out of business.”They all nod, making me continue. “I have discovered they get their shipments from lower Mexico from a cartel called Los Sombras Negras. If I can bag him, the problem will be solved.”Don Meyo rolls his eyes, like he has seen a thousand deals go south but the old bastard doesn't know what he is dealing with. “And what if he doesn't agree.”“Yee of little faith,” I mutter while taking out my phone. “Business is a matter of quid pro quo. Knowing what a man wants before he wants it.”“And what does he want?” Hurio asks.“A
Maya's povI swirl my milkshake lazily in my hand — the thick vanilla blend twirling in the glass, my mind elsewhere. Cassian's abs — wet and tout swim freely in my mind. My core throbs as Jenny's voice breaks through the chatter in the cafe.“Are you listening to me?” She asks, her voice strained. My eyes travel to the street and a man stands there, making a chill run down my spine.“Yeah, of course, what did you just say?” I ask, pulling my attention towards her.She tilts her head. “I'm saying my son's baby daddy is back in town and he wants to take my son away from me.”“What?”She sighs, “he has money Maya, he can get lawyers that will help him,” she states, her fingers drumming on the coffee table. I place my milkshake down. Here I am worried that I will be sleeping in the same bed with Cassian while Jenny might be losing her son.“Why the change in heart, I thought he didn't want him.”“I don't know either, he even dumped me when I said I wouldn't abort the baby now he is her
Cassian's povI climbed the stairs wondering why Maya looked so disturbed. Her door is open and I go right in. Maya's body is pressed against Holden as he runs a hand up and down her back, a hot rush of anger pulses through my veins drowning out the voice of reason.“What is going on here?” I ask.They tear apart, surprise written on their faces. I grab Holden's collar pushing him against the wall. “Cassian stop, he was just trying to comfort me,” Maya says, her voice breaking. “What's wrong?” I ask.“There was a man —,” Holden answers, making me throw a glare in his direction. “Did I ask you?”He shakes his head, folding his arms over his chest.“A man was following me,” she answers, the words a punch to the gut. “What?”“Did you see what he looked like?” I ask, the worst unfolding.“He was wearing shades and a coat.”Her eyes are glassy with unshed tears, as she hugs herself as if trying to hold herself together.“Did you look at his neck?”She shakes her head, as I help her off
My heart pounds in my ears as I check the clock. Five-forty-two. This surgery shouldn't take longer than twelve hours — it's a routine procedure. I adjust the magnifying glass over my eyes, my hands shaking slightly. This has to be perfect, there is no margin for error. Leo follows my movements closely, his presence a bitter reminder of what lies at stake. I lower the operating microscope looking at the tumour.I make the first incision — a millimeter-wide opening through the pars plana, the safest entry point. The vitrector hums as I remove the vitreous humor, clearing my view.“There it is,” I murmur. The tumor is vascular — too many blood vessels weaving through it.The lights bounce off the surgical items as I take the micro-scissors trying to separate them from the blood vessels. Bit by bit I excise the tumour, the tension in the room palpable as Leo watches with unwavering eyes.Halfway through. A vessel bursts.Damn it.“Where's all this blood coming from?” “Do something,” h
Cassian's povI pick my shirt back up and take the envelope. I stop by where she stands but she won't look at me. I hold her chin, forcing her to do it.“You're too good for me,” I whisper my eyes trailing her face. “I don't want to be,” she says, her lips partly open. Maya is like a drug every time you have a little you just want more and right now I want her in a way that's not holy. “You should,” I force myself to say but my body is betraying me.My hand cups her cheeks, my body pressed against hers. Heat crawls to my groin and I just want to push her against the wall and have a piece of her.“Why?” She asks, looking completely innocent.“Because you find out every day that I'm terrible and that's not even the worst of it.”She sucks in a breath, tears brimming her eyes. “Is that why you won't let me near you?”The inches between us decrease and our breaths start to mingle. My throat goes dry, my lips itching for her taste.“Yes.”“But you will let Roxanne,” she counters.“She is
Maya's povI flip the envelope in my hand ready to open it just to piss him off. He just keeps on getting worse and if that's not enough he even sends Holden after a girl.How could he?My fingers slide under the seal tearing the top off not caring about the consequences. The paper rustles as I take it out of the envelope. Names of people are boldly written in black and the first three are marked off with a big red line.A wave of nausea hits me as I look at the photos. A woman smiles boldly in all the photos, one going to work, school another one with her kids —Is he having her followed?My eyes travel to the first paper and I recognize the name. Oscar Wright. The man he drugged me to kill.As if he couldn't get any worse I'm proved wrong. He is going around killing people, the papers slide from my lap flowing to the floor just as the door flies open.My heart lurches to my throat, my throat coming out in slow gasps. He stands there, his wide eyes mirroring mine. “Maya,” he calls p
Cassian's povHer eyes darken, her breathing coming out in short, ragged gasps as she tries to come down from the high. She buttons her shirt with practiced ease fixing her brassiere. She smooths down her skirt, a satisfied grin curling on her lips. The dim office light flickers casting shadows over the desk we just sprawled over. She takes a step back her legs wobbling slightly, but she recovers slightly like someone who has done this a million times.“You really know what you're doing.”I zip up my pants, my movements swift, detached. Grabbing a wipe, I clean my hands but the sensation of her touch lingers — the way her hips bucked when my fingers digged into them, her breath hot against my ear.“Did you need anything else?” I ask, barely meeting her eyes.She clears her throat. “Uh no, I got what I wanted,” she says, opening the door. “For now.”The words make my skin crawl. Having sex with her is like giving a child candy every time they cry — they always throw tantrums to get mor
Maya's pov“Are you still mad at me?” I ask stepping in front of Holden blocking his view from the screen. He doesn't move but shifts his grip on the controller his knuckles whitening.The bluish glow from the TV flickers across his face, highlighting the angle of his jaw. His doe eyes flick up to meet mine, but his expression is unreadable.“I'm not mad at you,” he says but his tone says otherwise. I jump next to him. “Yes you are, you have barely talked to me.”“You want me to talk to you?”I look away. “Yeah, you're my friend.”I look back just in time to see him smile. “Well, you don't act like I'm your friend.”My stomach churns. “I told you, I can't tell you what's wrong with Cassian,” I mumble, touching his thigh. “But I can tell you, I'm taking care of him and I won't let anything happen to him.”Something crosses his face. “Cool.”Silence takes over and the tension is suffocating. “Do you want me to teach you how to play?”I light up. “Yeah.”He takes another game controller
Cassian's pov“What's this I'm hearing about seducing Don Meyos daughter?” Holden asks a bored look on his face.I compose myself, but the nagging feeling of Maya leaving won't stop gnawing at me. I knew she wasn't going to stay forever so why am I feeling like I'm losing something more?“They appointed Roxanne as the new board member instead of her.”He nods. “And this concerns me how?”“We need to know why.”“I thought you liked her,” he says, raising a brow at me. “Hence taking her from Mexico to here.”“I was doing that to stop the Moretti's drug operation,” I answer. “And I did, but Don Hurio brought her here for some unknown reason.”“So you don't want her on the board.”I huff. “Yes.”“Because?”“There is something suspicious about it all," I answered taking a seat on the chair.He walks out and I let out a breath. I don't know if he believed me but that's all I have for now. I take the papers from the safe, going through them one by one. If there's something to know about the
Maya's pov“What's wrong with you, this is good news?” I ask, he barely meets my eyes as he speaks.“Nothing, I just need to be alone for now,” he says, his voice barely audible.“Okay.” I take the papers leaving his room. Holden leans outside his door, his hands in his pocket. I swallow the lump in my throat, the guilt of slamming the door on him the other day resurfacing.“Uh, hi,” I mumble.He forces a smile. “Hey.”“Uhm I'm going back to the hospital.”He nods getting inside the room. I place the papers in my room running down the stairs.“Maya, where are you going?” Dimitri asks as I put on my jacket.“To the hospital.”He looks at his watch. “At this hour?”I stop narrowing my eyes at him. “Yeah, do you have a problem?”He sighs, picking up the car keys. “No.”I walk in front of him taking a seat at the back. The hum of the engine fills the silence, low and steady but my mind is still hung up on Cassian's behavior.Was he not pleased by the news? Dimitri clutches the steering w
Cassian's pov“Sir ma'am Maya is not cooperating,” Dimitri complains, his face set in a frown.“She won't let me teach or let me anywhere near her,” he adds. I place my leg over the other slumping on the chair.“So you have come to tell me you're failing at your job,” I mumble. He remains stoic but I see the slight twitch in his jaw.“No sir, I just came —”I cut him off. “I don't care what you do or how you do it. Not a single hair on her head should be touched.”His lips form a thin line. ”But she won't.”“I don't care, like right now she is at the hospital and you're here,” I mumble checking my watch. The red dot has been there for three hours.“That only shows me how incompetent you are, leave my office before I do something I will regret.”He runs out and I hope he is going to the hospital because if anything happens to Maya I will slaughter him alive. Someone knocks on the door and I groan.“Who is it?” I ask.“It's Leo sir, may I come in.”“Yes.”He steps in, his silhouette sha
Maya's povI finish sterilizing the surgical area and arranging the tools. After some hours of preparation and long tutorials on how to do it, I finally felt confident enough to go and ask him if I could poke into his eye with a giant needle.I trudge to his office thinking of ways to convince him when I very well know this shouldn't even be this difficult.A strong scented perfume lingers around his office and just when I'm about to knock the door swings open.Roxanne steps out with a wide grin on her face. She looks at me skeptically, pulling her bag to her elbow. “Evening Maya,” she says brushing past me.Cassian appears behind her and I freeze. She is back. “What do you want?” Cassian asks, looking to where Roxanne just walked past.“To do a Biopsy.”“Can it wait?”“Can your blindness wait?”He rolls his eyes. “Let's go.”“Have you eaten anything?” I ask as I scrub myself.“Not since last night.”I put on my mask standing next to him.“What is a Biopsy?”“It's a test to determine